Loader mechanism for strands of linked products

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an automatic apparatus which will pick up continuously connected casings of linked product, especially sausages or frankfurters, from an accumulation area or container, align and count a fixed number of links, elevate and rotate this measured quantity of product and then hang a helically looped section upon a hanger which is affixed to a continuously moving conveyor means.

United States Patent .1 1

Neubeck, Jr. et al.

[ LOADER MECHANISM FOR STRANDS 0F LINKED PRODUCTS [75 Inventors: William H. Neubeck, Jr., Chicago;

Anthony J Kloska,Chicago Heights,

both of I11.

[73] Assignee: The Griii ith llaboratoriesflnc Chicago, Ill.

22 Filed: Au 1912 211 Appl. No.: 278,193

[52] US. Cl. 226/104 [51] [I11- Cl. B651! [58] Field 01 Search .i 226/104, 106, 107, 226/105 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,430,831 3/1969 Burton et al.. 226/105 [111 3,747,821 [451 July 24, 1973 3,552,620 1/1971 3,680,757 8/1972 3 ,204,844 9/ 1 965 3,533,495 10/1970 Wallace 226/104 X Primary ExaminerA1len N. Knowles Attorney-Charles .1. Merriam, Norman M. Shapiro et al.

[57] ABSTRACT The present invention provides an automatic apparatus which will pick up continuously connected casings of linked product, especially sausages or frankfurters, from an accumulation area or container, align and count a fixed number of links, elevate and rotate this measured quantity of product and then hang a helically looped section upon a hanger which is affixed to a continuously moving conveyor means.

20 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures PAIENIEDJUL24|975 3; 747. 821

SHEET 3 OF 9 PAIEminJuLemsu SHEET 8 OF 9 P TEmEmummn 7, 82 1 saw a or 9 wkfmx JP QR E QE PArEmfnJuLws n SHEET 9 0F 9 LOADER MECHANISM FOR STRANDS OF LINKED PRODUCTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to automatic loading mechanisms and more specifically to a mechanism for loading continuous lengths of encased, linked sausage product onto moving hangers for transporta- .tion through the several processing elements or sections of a system which continuously and automatically cooks and chills the sausage product.

One popular type of sausage product is the skinless frankfurter. Casings for skinless sausages or frankfurters are formed from a plastic material, rather than gut, which was previously in use. A meat emulsion is fed into a tube of casing, which serves both to shape the meat product in a tubular form and to contain it during the cooking operation. The casing is usually removed by peeling after the cooking stage prior to packaging.

One method of skinless sausage manufacture comprises stuffing the plastic casing with meat emulsion, crimping the stuffed casing to form links, manually hanging the stuffed casing in continuous loops or festoons from a plurality of hangers, and passing the uncooked sausage into ovens for a cooking operation. From the ovens, the cooked sausage is cooled, passed to a decasing or peeling apparatus, and finally conveyed to a packaging machine. Previously, a fixed length or strand of encased, linked sausage product was manually applied to a stick or rod, which in turn was manually hung onto racks or cages. These cages were then manually transported into ovens for cooking in batches, the size of which was subject to the capacity of the oven. After cooling, the cages were manually transported to a refrigerated storage room for chilling. In the more modern process, a continuously moving conveyor is utilized to transport the product through the cooking and chilling processes. The conveyor means of transport consists of a multiplicity of hangers, from which the lengths of linked product are suspended. To permit uniform "cooking and uniform color of the finished product, the'hanging strand must not touch the adjacent strand during processing.

One step in such a continuous production operation which has been particularly time consuming and costly has been the loading of the product onto the hangers for transportation to the ovens.

The more popularly used linking machine creates the link point by unidirectionally twisting the casing at uniform intervals to produce the individual sausage unit. Because of the unidirectional twist imparted to the casing at the link points, there is a natural tendency for the suspended vertically hanging portion to self twist or "figure eight in pairs of adjacent strands causing undesired contact between the adjacent strans.

A hanging configuration of a straightline drape over the hanger with an even number of links disposed between the hangers will consistently produce this twisting action. However, the hanging configuration of a helically wound drape over the hanger, with each hanger supporting a loop of the helix, does not produce this twisting action for either an even number or an odd number of links disposed between the hangers. The prior art has obtained this helical hanging configuration by hand loading. Suggested prior art mechanical loading systems, however, have merely proposed that straight draped chains of frankfurters be placed onto the hangers, which would create self twisting whenever an even number of links was disposed between hangers. Any practical loading apparatus for use with continuous processing systems must: (a) prevent touching of adjacent strands, and (b) eliminate the high cost of hand loading.

The linking machine does not produce a continuous strand of linked product. It produces a strand limited by the length of the tubular casing. The rate of linking machine output does not lend itself to the continuous rate that must be maintained in transporting the product through the other processes in the modern continuous frankfurther production. Further, the ends of adjacent casings must be tied together to eliminate unwinding of the unidirectional twist at link points near either end of each adjacent casing. These individual lengths of encased product must be accumulated, tied and coordinatively applied to the continuous processing conveyor. Therefore, any practical loading apparatus must acquire and realign the product from the accumulation point, and then transport it to and hang it upon a moving hanger in proper hanging configuration.

' SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a synchronized, outboard, indexing conveyor to transport casings of linked product from tubs, where they have been accumulated after their extrusion from the linking machine, to a height where they may be picked up by mechanical fingers in a synchronized operation and hung in a helical loop configuration.

'Th'e outboard nature of the indexing conveyor permits mechanical fingers attached to a mechanical arm tointercept and lift the casings near the top of the indexing conveyor by the raising of the mechanical arm while the mechanical fingers are advanced forward until they are underneath the casing. Just after the mechanical fingers start to lift the linked product from the synchronized indexing conveyor, the conveyor begins to count out and transport the linked product upward. After the proper number of frankfurters has been counted, transported, and pushed away from the conveyor by a push bar, a synchronized brake operates to prevent overcoasting of the conveyor.

While lifting the linked product off the conveyor and rising to the level of the hangers, in a combination of rotational, horizontal, and vertical movement, the mechanical arm twists and at the same time recedes toward the centrally located hangers, all of which result in a twist of the linked product. When the 180 twist has been completed, the resulting festoon is then hung on a hanger which has been synchronized to arrive at the proper point in space at the proper time.

In one embodiment of the present invention there are four indexing conveyors and four mechanical arms, disposed two to a side on either side of the centrally located moving hangers. First, the mechanical arms located nearest the entrance to the present invention load both sides of a hanger simultaneously on its interior portion. The hanger then moves on and the mechanical arms located'nearest the exit to the present invention' simultaneously deposit their respective fes toons at points more near the ends of the same hanger, all of which results in the hanger entering the oven with four festoons hung thereon.

a As the ladened hanger continues to move along toward the oven, each mechanical arm begins its descent to intercept, lift, twist and deposit another festoon of linked product. While the mechanical arm is descending, the entire mechanical arm rotates 90 back to its original position. The mechanical fingers separately rotate 90 and move horizontally back to their original position. The means by which these various motions and their synchronization are carried out will be discussed in detail, infra.

The present invention greatly reduces the problems associated with the use of prior art loading techniques and systems by automatically hanging the linked product in helices, which has the advantage that the festoons will not figure eight. Also, the only hand labor required in conjunction with the present invention is the initial laying of the linked product on the indexing conveyor. A further advantage of the present invention is its utility for use in the modern method of continuous frankfurter production.

Other features and advantages are inherent in the present invention as disclosed and claimed, or will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention, showing the entrance, exit and direction of hanger movement (arrow L).

FIGS. 2-5 are partial veiws of the hanger, indexing conveyor, and the various parts of the mechanical pick up arm, showing their various positions during pick up and transfer of a festoon of the linked product to the hanger.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the indexing conveyors, showing two product hanger extenders of the mechanical pick up arms for extention and retraction of the product carrier, the respective product hanger extenders being provided for inner and outer placing of different festoons onto a single moving hanger.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view showing two of the indexing conveyors and the four mechanical pick up arms, illustrating the various rotary and pneumatic drives for operating the mechanical pick up arm and the moving hanger assembly.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the various drive mechanisms and pneumatic cylinder arrangements for operating the mechanical pick up arm assemblies also showing diagrammatically the cams and switch means for synchronizing various movements of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a detailed view of the mechanical arm drive mechanism, showing also the linkage for driving the moving hanger assembly, both of which are shown in the clevational view of FIG. 7, and also illustrating the various gear mechanisms for providing various movements of the pick up arm, which have been shown in detail in FIGS. 2-5.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are perspective views, illustrating the pneumatic cylinder arrangement for rotating a mechanical pick up arm.

FIG. 12 is a fragmented plan view of a product hanger extender of a mechanical pick up arm with the top plate removed, showing, in phantom lines, the slotted cam plate and the pick up and hanging positions of the product carrier.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are sectional views of the product hanger extender apparatus taken along the indicated sectional lines of FIG. 12, showing the details of the product carrier and carrier hanger.

FIG. 15 is a semidiagrammatical side elevation of an indexing conveyor, showing, inter alia, the pneumatic drive cylinder apparatus, the outboard product chain and indexing lugs, the timing apparatus, the pusher bar indexing release block, and linked product being transported.

FIG. 16 is a detailed sectional view of the indexing conveyor taken along the indicated sectional lines of FIG. 15, showing, inter alia, the drive and clutch assembly, the timing and brake assembly, the outboard product chain and indexing hangers, the pusher bar assembly, and linked product being transported.

FIG. 17 taken along the indicated sectional lines of FIG. 16 is a detailed sectional view of the brake assembly, showing the timing chain actuator hitting a limit switch to stop the indexing conveyor.

FIG. 18 is a detailed side elevation of the pneumatic drive for pusher bar assembly.

FIG. 19 is a top view of the pick up end of the indexing conveyor showing a product carrier in position to pick up a festoon of linked product.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The various elements of the illustrated apparatus will first be listed and described and interrelated, infra, in conjunction with the appropriate figure. The apparatus comprises four basic elements: (a) hangers; (b) an indexing conveyor; (0) a mechanical pick up arm; and (d) synchronizing means for (a)-(c). The illustrated embodiment of the present invention has a structural framework upon which are mounted or appended the following parts and/or machine elements:

a. container means for accumulated product;

b. support means for accumulated product containers;

c. guide means to lead product from container to apparatus;

d. roller means to eliminate friction against product at entrance to apparatus;

e. indexing means spaced at intervals to match linkpoints of product so that each link section of product is suspended between indexing means;

f. endless chain or belt means to contain a multiplicity of evenly spaced indexing means;

g. sprocket or pulley means disposed at each extremity of and by which a chain or belt is supported and transported;

h. disengaging means at discharge end to lift product link point free of index means;

i. driving means to rotate sprocket and transport index means;

j. clutch means to permit transport movement in one direction only;

k. starting means to activate transport means;

I. counting means to count or measure a fixed length and consequently, a fixed number of product links;

m. stopping means to stop the driving means when count is completed;

n. braking means to eliminate coasting or overriding of transport means;

0. finger means to pick up, carry and deposit the measured or counted length of links;

p. arm means to support the finger means;

q. elevating means to raise the arm and the product to a point above product hanger on processing conveyor and reciprocal lowering means to permit deposit of product onto hanger and return of arm to pick up position;

r. restraining means to prevent disengaging of product from indexing means while fingers are lifting product;

s. pushing means to push measured length of product clear of discharge end of indexing apparatus as product is being lifted;

t. arm rotating means to turn arm 90 and align arm with product hanger of processing conveyor during hang off operation and, by reciprocal rotation, return arm to pick up position;

u. finger rotating means to turn fingers 90 and align fingers with product hanger of process conveyor during hang off operation and by reciprocal rotation return fingers to pick up position; and

v. finger extending means to transport product to hang off location on product hanger of processing conveyor and by reciprocal wtihdrawal to retract fingers after product is hung.

In addition to the aforementioned functional elements, the illustrated embodiment of the present invention has synchronizing means that:

a. coordinate vertical movements of a mechanical pick up arm with the travel of a hanger of the product conveyor so that when the mechanical arm and fingers are in loading posture, the downward movement proceeding from topmost position of arm will provide coincidence of the product hanger and the space or split between the fingers;

b. actuate finger retracting means when vertical downward motion of arm moves top of fingers below product hanger of processing conveyor;

c. rotate arm through arc of 45.upon completion of finger retract (b); l

d. rotate arm an additional 45 (for a total of 90 rotation) upon reaching bottommost position of arm vertical travel; g

e. release brake-means andstart indexing transport means when vertical upward motion of arm moves bottom of fingers above center line between indexing means;

f. actuate pushing means at same time as starting transport means e; count a fixed length of links, stop indexing transport means, actuate braking means and retract pushing means when preset count is met; rotate arm through arc of 90 when vertical upward motion of arm has raised bottom of arm above top of product hanger of processing conveyor;

i. actuate finger extending means when vertical upward motion of arm raises fingers to the topmost position;

j. loader stopping means to stop loading process but permit product conveyor to operate, to maintain synchronization of loader to conveyor, and to automatically position arm in a neutral location clear of moving conveyor hanger.

k. loader starting means to start loading process, and release arms from neutral position. 1. safety release means toactuate pushing means retraction just prior to final 45' rotation of arm at bottom position of arm vertical travel, which eliminates mechanical interference between fingers and pushing means if counting means is inactive for any reason.

It is to be understood that the aforementioned detailed listing of elements is included herein only to assist in describing the illustrated embodiment of the invention, and is not to be taken as a limitation of the scope of the invention.

Rferring to FIG. 1, frame 20 has appended or affixed thereto the various elements of the present invention, which include indexing conveyor 90 to receive the linked product from product tubs 24 and transport it upwardly where it is to be picked up by mechanical arm 30. After mechanical arm 30 receives the linked product, it further elevates the strand, twists it into a helical loop and then hangs it upon a conveyor hanger.

A plurality of conveyor hangers are suspended from moving hanger assembly 140, which functions to transport the linked product to the oven for cooking. In the embodiment of the present invention shown, four indexing conveyors disposed two to a side service four similarly disposed mechanical arms. The functioning parts of each of the major elements of the illustrated embodiment and the motions associated with each will be examined in greater detail, infra.

An analysis of the respective movements of the various elements will be presented prior to any detailed discussion of the parts of the present invention. FIGS. 2-5 show the cooperative motions of the major elements of the present invention, which result in the hanging of a festoon of linked product onto a conveyor hanger.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a fragmented view of indexing conveyor 90 is presented, schematically showing the upward motion of the outboard product chain on the upper surface of the conveyor (Arrow A) and the downward motion of the outboard product chain on the under side of the conveyor (Arrow B). The pick up end of the indexing conveyor is shaped such that split product carrier 32, also referred to herein as fingers, can reach under the linked product in order to lift it from conveyor 90 to conveyor hanger 141. The forward movement of conveyor hanger 141 is shown by Arrow C. It is possible for product carrier 32 to reach under and lift the linked product due to the outboard characteristics of the indexing conveyor and the fact that product carrier 32 is split into two supportive elements. This latter feature also facilitates the hanging of the linked product onto conveyor hanger 141.

Referring to FIG. 3, mechanical arm 30 has slotted, box-shaped, pneumatically-operated product hanger extender 34, which is attached to upwardly extending rotatable shaft 36, said shaft enclosed in sleeve 38 whose exterior surface has a vertical rack means 50 for raising and the lowering the mechanical arm.

Arrow D shows the forward motion of product hanger 33 within slotted product hanger extender 34. Arrow E shows the rotational motion of product hanger 33 simultaneous with its extension forward within product hanger extender 34. Arrow F shows the reciprocal rotation which occurs after hanging, as product hanger 33 recedes to its former position.

Arrow 0 shows the downward motion of mechanical pick up arm 30 operated by vertical rack means 50, and arrow H shown the reciprocal upward motion. Arrow I shows the rotation of shaft 36 of mechanical arm 30 utilized in picking up a festoon of linked product. Arrow J shows the reciprocal rotational motion utilized in placing a festoon of the linked product upon hanger Arrow K shows the motion of pusher bar 111 (shown in phantom in FIG. 4).

The above enumerated motions are accomplished in the following sequence, beginning with the cycle as shown in FIG. 2:

a. a festoon having just been hung on hanger 141, mechanical arm 30 is preparing to pick up another strand from indexing conveyor 90;

b. as the product hanger 33 recedes away from the plane of motion of conveyor hanger 141, it rotates 90 counterclockwise (if reviewed from above);

0. simultaneously, the entire mechanical arm is being lowered from its hanging level (FIG. to its pick up level (see FIG. 3);

(I. also simultaneously, the entire mechanical arm is being rotated yet another 90 counterclockwise by pneumatically operated shaft 36 of the mechanical arm, so that when product carrier 32 reaches under the linked product, as it is doing in FIG. 3, it will have rotated l80 counterclockwise from its hanging position as shown in FIG. 5;

e. mechanical arm rises 30 and product hangers 33 pick up linked product;

f. after the linked product has been picked up, synchronized indexing conveyor 90 is actuated to count out and deliver a specified length of linked product to its pickup end;

g. while mechanical arm 30 is picking up the linked product, pneumatically pusher bar 111 moves for ward, as shown by Arrow K to facilitate clearance of the conveyor by the linked product and to prevent premature de-indexing;

h. the linked product strikes a grooved index release block, which is complementarily shaped with the indexing lugs, described infra, and is de-indexed or released thereby;

. after picking up the linked product in FIG. 3, product hanger 33 advances in slotted product hanger extender 34 and, as a result of the slotted cam plate (see FIG. 12, infra), in which the carrier hanger must move, it rotates 90 (as viewed from above);

j. rack means 50 on sleeve 38 surrounding shaft 36 raises the entire mechanical arm from pick up level shown in FIG. 3 to hanger level shown in FIG. 5, while operated pneumatically shaft 36 rotates the entire mechanical arm another 90 clockwise, so that in FIG. 5 product carrier 32 has been rotated a total of l80 since picking up the linked product in FIG. 3; and

k. product carrier 32 has extended forward to the plane of conveyor hanger 141 from the plane of conveyor 90. The net result of the motions depicted by arrows A-K is the hanging in helical configuration of a festoon of linked product. Not shown in FIGS. 2-5 are the details of the discontinuous, synchronized motion of the indexing conveyor.

Referring to FIG. 6, right hand first and second indexing conveyors 90a, 90b serve mechanical pick up arms which hang festoons of linked product respectively on right hand inner and outer portions 142a, I42b of hanger 141. Left hand first and second indexing conveyors 90c, 90d hang festoons of linked product respectively on left hand inner and outer portions 142e, 142d of hanger 141. Indexing conveyors 90 a-d are disposed above product tubs 24 which are supported by product platform 25, all of which is supported by frame 20. A centrally disposed plurality of hangers, each to be hung with four festoons of linked product, move in the direction shown by arrow L in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7.

Right hand first and second slotted product carrier hanger extenders 34a, 34b, which hang the inner and outer festoons of linked product on right hand inner portion 142a and right hand outer portion 142b of hanger 141, are shown. The former is in hanging position, while the latter is rotated 90 to the pick up position. The hanger extenders for the left side of the apparatus are not shown.

Referring to FIG. 7, left hand first and second indexing conveyors 90c, 90d, each having pick up end 91 and input end 92 with dual product guides 116, 161, are supported by frame 20. Left hand second indexing conveyor 90d is shown in operation. Right hand indexing conveyors 90a, 90b are not shown.

Upon product platform 25 rests a multitude of product tubs 24, in which the linked product is collected after manufacture by the linking machine but prior to hanging by the mechanical pick up arms. Second left hand mechanical pick up arm 3011 is shown in pick up position, while other three pick up arms are shown in hanging position, their respective product carriers having been removed.

Also shown in FIG. 7 housed within top enclosure 22 is the motor driven rack and pinion system for raising and lowering each of the four mechanical pick up arm assemblies. The specifics of the rack and pinion system will be examiner in detail in connection with FIGS. 8 and 9. Also shown is the pneumatic cylinder system for rotating the mechanical arms.

Referring to FIG. 7, hanger assembly is driven by a gear train. A drive sprocket 143, powered by gear reducer 42, is connected to driven sprocket by drive chain 144. An internal sprocket 145a is connected to a circular gear 147 with sprocket 1470 of smaller diameter than circular gear 147. Meshing with circular gear 147 is a matching horizontal circular gear 148, to the center of the bottom surface of which is attached shaft 149. Shaft 149 transmits its rotary motion to a large collecting wheel 150 with wheel lugs 151 on its circumference. Matching hanger cable lugs 153 attach hangers 147 to hanger cable 152, which stretches around collecting wheel 150. Wheel lugs 151 and hanger cable lugs 153 serve as gear teeth to pull hanger cable 152 around collecting wheel 150. In the preferred embodiment the ratio of the diameters of sprockets 143, 145, 145a, 147a is l6:25:l0:32, which along with the gear ratio selected necessarily synchronizes the movement of hanger cable 152 with that of the other motor driven elements.

FIG. 8 shows in greater detail a plan view of the loader drive assembly. Referring also to FIGS. 7 and 9, motor 40 is mounted atop motor platform 41 and is connected to gear reducer 42 by a plurality of motor belts 43. Motor 40 also drives sprocket 143, which is connected to and powers hanger .assembly 140 by means of drive chain 144, as described, supra.

Rack and pinion means 44 for raising and lowering mechanical pick up arms 30a-d comprises a central horizontal rack 45 which drives pinion means 46a-d, each of which comprises an inner circular gear 47, a connecting shaft 48 and an outer circular gear 49. Pinion means 46d which raises and lowers mechanical pick up arm 30d is illustrative. Inner circular gear 47 meshes with horizontal rack 45. Attached to the center of inner circular gear 47 is connecting shaft 48, to the other end of which is attached outer circular gear 49. As shown in FIG. 8, on pick up arm 30d, outer gear 49 meshes with a vertical pinion means 50 on sleeve 38 surrounding shaft 36 of mechanical pick up arm 30. Thus, when horizontal rack 45 ismoved to the right (arrow M, FIG. 9) at the urging of bifurcated rotary lever 51, which is driven by crank arm 56 (arrow N, FIG. 9), inner circular gear 47 is actuated (arrow FIG. 9) and, the circular motion is transferred by connecting shaft 48 to outer circular gear 49, which then drives mechanical pick up arm 30 downwardly (arrow P, FIG. 9) into pick up position. When crank arm 56 begins the upward portion of its cycle (arrow 0, FIG. 9), rack 45 is driven to the left (arrow R, FIG. 9) by lever 51,- inner circular gear 47 is actuated, transmitting its motion by connecting shaft 48 to outer circular gear 49, and mechanical pick up arm 30 is driven upwardly into hanging position (arrow S, FIG. 9).

Horizontal rack 45 has support means 52 which permit it to slide freely to the right and left of the urging of lever 51. Each support means 52 comprises two round ways 53, 53' disposed one on each side of rack 45, each way being connected to rack 45 by two laterally projecting way supports'54, 54', except that nearest to motor 40 way support 55 is slotted to permit bifurcated rotary lever 51 to pass above and below the plane of rack 45 when driven by crank arm 56. Round ways 53, 53' are supported and freely slide within sleeves 57, 57' which are in turn supported by frame 20. The net effect of the above described rack and pinion means is to provide the vertical motion of the mechanical pick up arms.

Rotation of the mechanical pick up arms is provided by outboard pneumatic cylinder assemblies 60a-d, whose functioning will be described in greater detail, infra.

Also driven by gear'reducer 42 is cam shaft 26 shown diagramatically in FIG. 8, which drives several synchronizing means which include cams 37a, 37b, and 37c, which control cam switches 39a, 39b, and 390 respectively. Cam 37a and cam switch 39a control the functioning of pneumatic cylinder 75 of product hanger extender 34 the details of which are described, infra, in connection with FIGS. l2-14. Cam 37)) and cam switch 39b control the, functioning of outboard pneumatic cylinder 61, which rotates mechanical arms 30a-d from 0-45 and 45-0. Cam 37c and cam switch 390 control the functioning of outboard pneumatic cylinder 61', which rotates mechanical arms 30a-d from 45-90 and 9045. The details of these rotations are described, infra, in connection with FIGS. and II.

Cam 370 also has two limit switch actuators 27a, 2712 which trip limit switches 28a, 28b. Limit switch 28a is synchronized to start indexing conveyor 90, after it has been stopped by limit switch 104. Limit switch 28b is a safety feature which makes sure that pusher bar 111, as shown in FIG. 2-5 is fully retracted 'so that there is no mechanical interference between product carriers 32 and pusher bar 111.

FIG. 9 shows a larger view of the loader drive assembly previously shown in FIGS. '7 and 8. Motor '40, motor platform 41 and motor belts 43 are not shown.

Also shown in- FIG. 9 is mechanical arm. 30b, which comprises vertical mast assembly 35b, outboard air cylinder assembly 60b for rotating mast assembly 35b and product hanger extender 34b, but with product carrier 32b and product hanger 33b not shown at the bottom of the FIG.

Referring to mechanical pick up arm 30b of FIG. 9 and mechanical pick up arm 30d of FIG. 8, which has the outboard pneumatic cylinder assembly removed, mast assembly 35 comprises a central rotatable shaft 36 surrounded by a fixed sleeve 38 with vertical rack means 50 attached thereto, and two round ways 29, 29'

- which serve to guide the entire mechanical arm assembly.

FIG. 9, and especially FIGS. 10 and 11, show the details and operation of outboard pneumatic cylinder assembly 60 comprising two fluidic cylinders 61, 61, which together operate to rotate the mechanical arm 90", as shown by Arrows I and J in FIGS. 2-5, 10 and l I. The fluidic cylinders used in the preferred embodiment of the present invention are air operated, i.e., pneumatic cylinders, but hydrolic cylinders may be used. One outboard pneumatic cylinder 61 is affixed to pivoting cylinder bracket 62 which is supported by stationary cylinder support bar 63 which in turn is attached to stationary platform 64. Attached to platform 64 is stationary sleeve 38 of vertical mast assembly 35. Pneumatic cylinder 61' is attached to bracket 65 which is pivotally mounted at bolt 66 to lever 68, which is in turn connected to shaft 36 at central bolt 67.

Outboard pneumatic cylinder assembly 60 rotates vertical mast assembly 35 90 when pneumatic cylinders 61, 61 operate. Specifically, cylinder 61, which is supported by stationary cylinder support bar 63, actuates, driving the common piston rod 69 towards it. This motion pulls rotatable lever 68, which is pivotally attached to cylinder bracket 65, 45 clockwise. Since lever 68 is attached to shaft 36, which is in turn secured to product hanger extender 34, the entire mechanical arm is rotated 45, except for sleeve 38 with attached vertical rack means 50, which must remain fixed. Pneumatic cylinder 61' then actuates, forcing piston rod 69 towards cylinder 61' which rotates lever 68 until it and stationary platform 64 are in syzygy, which is the closed or hanging position. This position is shown in FIG. 8 for mechanical pick up arm 30b, while mechanical pick up arms 30a and 30c are shown in open or pick up position. FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 show that when pneumatic cylinders 61, 61' are in retracted position and rotation of shaft 36 is complete the mechanical arm is fully elevated and in hanging position.

Shaft 36 is rotated back to pick up position by the reciprocal process of that described, supra, until rotatable lever 68 is again perpendicular to stationary platform 64.

FIGS. 12 through 14 show the functioning parts of product hanger extender 34. Specifically, FIG. 12 shows a top view of product hanger extender 34 with top plate 70 and top cam plate 71 removed. The shape of cam groove 72 is partially shown in phantom. FIG. 12 shows, however, side plates 73, defining side tracks 74, 74. Also shown in phantom .in FIG. 12 is the position of product carrier 32 in pick up position near the middle of product hanger extender 34 and in hanging position near the right extremity of product hanger extender 34.

Pneumatic cylinder 75 with piston rod 76 is attached to and drives cam follower assembly 77, which has cam follower arm 78 at the top thereof with cam follower 79 attached to the top of cam follower arm 78. As shown in FIG. 12, cam follower arm 78 is angled at 45 to the normal. Cam follower 79 slides in cam groove 72 in top cam plate 71 and causes cam follower shaft 80 attached to cam follower arm 78 to rotate 90 counterclockwise when penumatic cylinder 75 actuates.

Attached perpendicularly to the bottom of cam follower shaft 80 is product carrier arm 81 to which is attached a pair of product hangers 33. Attached horizontally at the bottom of each product hanger 33 is a product carrier 32 with indented upper surface for lifting and carrying festoons of linked product. Supporting cam follower shaft 80 is cam follower block 82, each side of which has a side wheel 83 which ride in side track 74 in side plates 73,73.

FIGS. 12-14 show the functional elements of product hanger extender 34 in an extended, or hanging, position. Retraction begins when pneumatic cylinder 75 actuates causing piston rod 76 to be urged into cylinder 75. This urges cam follower assembly 77 and cam follower block 82 from front portion 84 toward rear position 85 of product hanger extender 34.

As the elements of product hanger extender 34 are urged toward rear portion 85, cam follower 79 slides within cam groove 72 of top cam plate 71. Side wheels 83, 83' ride freely within side tracks 74, 74 for ease of backward and forwardmotion of cam follower assembly 77. Since cam groove 72 runs from right side 86 to left side 87 of top cam plate 71, cam follower 79 rotates cam follower arm 78 90; product carrier arm 81 is likewise rotated 90, as are the carrier hangers 33; finally, product carriers 32 are rotated 90 when piston rod 76 has sufficiently retracted into pneumatic cylinder 75. Product hanger extender 34 is now in a fully retracted, or pick up, position. In order for product hanger extender 34 to complete the cycle and return to a hanging, or extended position, pneumatic cylinder 75 reciprocally actuates, causing piston rod 76 to be urged forward and to retrace in reverse the above described ste s.

Ifeferring to FIGS. and 16, indexing conveyor 90 contains within inboard compartment 125 formed by base plate 119 and side panel 121, a double-acting pneumatic drive cylinder 93 with piston rod 94 having attached to the ends thereof drive chain 95 which turns drive sprocket 96, near pick up end 91 of conveyor 90. Drive sprocket 96 in turn drives a lower drive shaft 97, which drives upper shaft 98 through spur gear train 99. Lower drive shaft 97 has clutch 100 thereon, which permits spur gear train 99 to be driven by double-acting drive cylinder 93 in one direction only.

Referring to FIGS. 15 through 17, on main drive shaft 98 is timing sprocket 101, which drives a timing chain 102. Projecting outwardly from timing chain 102 is a timing chain actuator 103, which strikes limit switch 104 once per cycle of the timing chain, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 17. The length of timing chain 102, the size of spur gear train 99, and the distance between outboard indexing lugs 110 may be changed to accomodate different size or quantity of linked product.

Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, also on main drive shaft 98 is brake mechanism 105, comprising a brake band 106, brake hub 107, and brake cylinder 108. Re-

ferring to FIG. 16 and FIG. 15 schematically, within an outboard compartment 126, which is founded by base plate 119 and side plate 120, product chain 109 has evenly spaced indexing lugs 110 attached outboard thereto with each lug supporting a link point 122 of the transported linked product 123. At pick up end 91 of indexing conveyor is a pneumatically actuated pusher bar 111 which: (a) restrains the linked product still on the indexing conveyor from being lifted free of the indexing hangers, which would result in a loss of the indexing feature and (b) pushes the strand of linked material away from the conveyor while said strand is being picked up by the mechanical pick up arm for hanging. At input end 92 of the indexing conveyor are inboard and outboard guide rods 116 and 116, which guide the linked product onto indexing conveyor 90. Grooved product roller 124 at input end 92 is shaped complementarily with indexing lugs 110 so that lugs 110 may easily pass over roller 124, whose function is to serve to eliminate friction of the linked product at the entrance to the apparatus and, hence, prevent breaking of the casing material.

Index release block 127 located at the terminal portion of pick up end 91 of indexing conveyor 90 is likewise groove shaped in cross section as are indexing lugs 110, to permit lugs 110 to pass smoothly thereover. When the linked product passes over groove 128 of index release block 127 its link point 122 is lifted off the index lug upon which the link point had rested. This process is repeated for each of the linked products. Thus, the joint effect of pusher bar 111 and index release block 127 is to keep the linked product indexed until it has reached the proper position for lifting.

Referring to FIG. 17 when timing chain actuator 103 strikes and actuates limit switch 104, which it does once each complete revolution of the timing chain, limit switch 104 simultaneously causes:

a. brake cylinder 108 to actuate;

b. pusher bar cylinder 113 to actuate;

c. main drive cylinder 93 to recycle, clutch preventing indexing conveyor 90 from transporting the linked material in reverse, i.e., in a downward direction.

FIG. 17, in addition to showing limit switch 104 and schematically the path of timing chain actuator 103, also shows brake mechanism 105. Brake band 106 is attached at one end to brake pneumatic cylinder piston rod 117, and the other end of the brake band is firmly secured to the indexing conveyor frame at 118, brake band 106 almost completely encircling brake hub 107. When brake cylinder 108 actuates, brake band 106 is tightened around brake hub 107 and prevents main drive shaft 98 from coasting once recyling has begun.

Referring to FIGS. 16 and 18, disposed exterior to and above outboard compartment 126 is pusher bar 111. Pusher bar link 112 is rotatably attached to pusher bar pneumatic cylinder 113 by piston rod 113a. When pusher bar cylinder 113 actuates, pusher bar link 112 rotates pusher bar hub 114 causing attached pusher bar arm 111a to rotate downwardly and push away the linked product from indexing conveyor 90 but restraining the linked product still on the indexing conveyor from being disengaged from the indexing lugs.

FIG. 19 shows product carrier 32 in phantom lines in position at pick up end 91 of indexing conveyor 90 to pick up a strand of the linked product, after which pusher bar 111 will be actuated to push the linked product clear of the conveyor while index release block 127 serves to release or de-index the linked product for ease of picking up.

Sanitary, easily cleanable materials are used throughout the construction of the apparatus illustrated herein. On surfaces where there is a high likelihood of product emulsion spillage, such as the surfaces of the indexing conveyor, which would become spattered if a strand were to break during lifting, polyethylene is used. Where great strength is required stainless steel parts are used, and where substantial strength, but also lightness of weight are required, nylon materials are utilized.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

l A loading mechanism for handling strands of a linked product attached in end-to-end relationship and for hanging said strands in a helical festoon configuration, said apparatus comprising:

an indexing conveyor for carrying said strands of linked product, said indexing conveyor having an input end for initially receiving said strands of linked product and a pick up end;

sufficient to twist said strands into helical festoons prior to depositing said strands on said hanger in said helical festoon configuration.

8. A loading mechanism as claimed in claim 7, including means for synchronously operating initially said first fluidic piston-cylinder means to rotate said shaft assembly and said finger means and then said seca plurality of movable hangers for receiving and transporting said strands in helical festoons;

pick up means for picking up said strands of linked product from said conveyor pick up end and depositing said strands in said helical festoons on respective hangers; and

means for driving and synchronizing said pick up means, said indexing conveyor, and said plurality of hangers during loading of said strands of linked product.

2. A loading mechanism as claimed in claim I, wherein:

said pickup means includes a rotatable, vertically movable shaft assembly including finger means extending therefrom for transportingsaid strands between said indexing conveyor and said hangers.

3. A loading mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein said driving and synchronizing means includes actuating means for synchronously operating said shaft assembly and finger means with respect to said indexing conveyor and said plurality of hangers, including means for synchronously and sequentially intercepting, rotating and depositing said strands on said plurality of hangers to form said helical festoon'configuration on said hangers.

4. A loading mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein said actuating means includes means coupled to said shaft assembly for selectively rotating said shaft assembly.

0nd fluidic piston-cylinder means to further rotate said shaft assembly and said finger means.

9. A loading mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said indexing conveyor includes means for intermittently conveying a length of said strand of linked product from said input end to said pick up end.

10. A loading mechanism as claimed in claim 2, including rack and pinion means for driving said vertically movable shaft assembly.

11. A loading mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pick up means includes a rotatable, vertically movable shaft assembly including finger means extending therefrom for intercepting said strand at said conveyor pick up end and transporting said strand to said hangers;

means for rotating said shaft assembly and said finger means; finger rotating means for separately rotating said finger means with respect to said shaft assembly;

said shaft assembly and finger means rotatable through an angle of about from an initial interception of said strand at said conveyor pick up end;

said finger means rotatable through an angle of about 90 with respect to said shaft assembly; and

whereby said strand upon interception by said finger means at said conveyor pick up end is rotatable through an angle of about prior to hanging on said hangers to form said helical festoon configuration.

12. In a mechanism for loading strands of linked sausages prior to cooking, including a plurality of continuously moving hangers for receiving and transporting said strands of linked sausages during cooking, the improvement comprising:

loading means for hanging said strands of linked sausages in helical festoons on said hangers for preventing self twisting of said strands and contacting of said links on said hangers during cooking.

13. A mechanism as claimed in claim 12, wherein said loading means comprises:

conveyor means for intermittently conveying a length of said sausage strand from an initial receiving position to a" pick up position; and

hanging means sychronously operable with respect to said conveyor means including means for lifting said length of strand from said pick up position, means for twisting said strand, and means for depositing said strand on respective hangers.

14. A mechanism as claimed in claim 13, wherein said conveyor means includes means for indexingsaid sausage strands in predetermined lengths.

15. A mechanism as claimed in claim 13, wherein said means for lifting and depositing said strand includes,

a pick up arm having finger means extending therefrom for engaging said strand;

and vertical drive means coupled to said pick up arm for selectively raising and lowering said arm so as to enable said finger means to engage said strand at said pick up position, raise said finger means above the level of said hangers and lower said finger means to a level below said hangers.

16. A mechanism as claimed in claim 15, wherein said finger means comprise at least two finger elements split sufficiently to enable said finger means to pass on either side of said hanger during depositing of said strand on said hanger.

17. A mechanism as claimed in claim 15, wherein said means for twisting said strand comprises rotating means for rotating said pick up arm and finger means and for twisting said strand from said pick up position through an arc sufficient to enable depositing of said strand on said hanger in said helical festoon configuration.

18. A mechanism as claimed in claim 17, wherein said rotating means includes means for separately rotating said finger means with respect to said pick up arm.

19. A mechanism as claimed in claim 18, wherein said means for separately rotating said finger means with respect to said arm includes slotted cam means having a cam follower assembly connected to said finger means.

20. A mechanism as claimed in claim 14, wherein said conveyor means includes pusher bar means at said pick up end operable upon initiation of said lifting of said strand for restraining said strand on said conveyor means from being de-indexed with respect to said conveyor means.

a: a 4x a UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT N0. 3,747 ,821

DATED July 24, 1973 INVEN OR(S) I William A. Neubeck, Jr. et a1.

It is certified that error appears in the ab0ve-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 55, change "'strans" to -strands-; column 6, line 8, change "Rferring" to Referring-; column 6, line 49, delete "Fig. 3" insert Figs. 2,

3, 4 and 5,; column 7, line 13, delete "counterclockwise (if reviewed from above) insert in line 13 after 90; column 7, line 18, delete "counterclockwise"; column 7, line 22, delete"counterclockwise"; column 7, lines 24 and 25, delete "mechanical arm rises 30 and product hangers 33 pick up linked products." insert -mechanical arm 30 rises and split product carriers 32 pick up linked products;-; column 7, line 34, delete "premature"; column 7, line 48, delete "clockwise"; column 8, lines 15-20, delete "Referring to Fig. 7,

left hand first and second indexing conveyers 90c, 90d, each having pick up vend 91 and input end 92 with dual product guides 116, 116', are supported by frame 20. Left hand second indexing conveyor 90d is shown in operation. Right hand indexing conveyors 90a, 90b are now shown." insert -Referring to Fig. 7, right hand firstv and second indexing conveyors 90a, 90b, each having pick up end 91 and input end 92 with dual product guides 116, 116', are supported by frame 20. Right hand second indexing conveyors 90c, 90d, are not shown.-; column 8, lines 24 and 25, delete "Second left hand mechanical pick up arm 30d" insert --Second right hand pick up arm 30b--; column 8, line 33, change "examiner" to --examined-; column 8, line 36, before "hanger" insert --conveyor--; column 8, line 37, before "A drive Sprocket 143" insert --The means provided for driving conveyor hanger assembly 140 may take a variety of forms. The preferred embodiment is, however, shown in Fig. 7 column 8, line 54, before "hanger" insert Page 1 of 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I CERTIFICATE CORRECTIQN PATENT'NO; 3,747,821 I DATED July 24, 1973 |NVENTOR(S) William A. Neubeck, Jr. et al.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

-conveyor; column 10, line 2, delete "mast assembly 35b" insert "shaft 36b--; column 10, line 22, change "hydrolic" to --hydraulic'--; column 10, line 32, delete "mast assembly 35" insert shaft 36--; column ll, line 8, delete "counterclockwise"; column 11, line 17, change "a side wheel" to side wheels-; column 11, line 18, delete insert and added wheels 83 mounted atop cam follower block 82 which ride alongside side plates 73, 73" to horizontally guide cam follower block 82..

Signed and sealed. this 20th day of May 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

' C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer and Trademarks I Page 2 of 2 

1. A loading mechanism for handling strands of a linked product attached in end-to-end relationship and for hanging said strands in a helical festoon configuration, said apparatus comprising: an indexing conveyor for carrying said strands of linked product, said indexing conveyor having an input end for initially receiving said strands of linked product and a pick up end; a plurality of movable hangers for receiving and transporting said strands in helical festoons; pick up means for picking up said strands of linked product from said conveyor pick up end and depositing said strands in said helical festoons on respective hangers; and means for driving and synchronizing said pick up means, said indexing conveyor, and said plurality of hangers during loading of said strands of linked product.
 2. A loading mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said pickup means includes a rotatable, vertically movable shaft assembly including finger means extending therefrom for transporting said strands between said indexing conveyor and said hangers.
 3. A loading mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein said driving and synchronizing means includes actuating means for synchronously operating said shaft assembly and finger means with respect to said indexing conveyor and said plurality of hangers, including means for synchronously and sequentially intercepting, rotating and depositing said strands on said plurality of hangers to form said helical festoon configuration on said hangers.
 4. A loading mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein said actuating means includes means coupled to said shaft assembly for selectively rotating said shaft assembly.
 5. A loading mechanism as claimed in claim 4, wherein said actuatiNg means further includes means coupled to said finger means for rotating said finger means with respect to said shaft assembly.
 6. A loading mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein said means coupled to said shaft assembly comprises respective first and second fluidic piston-cylinder means interconnected for rotating said shaft assembly and said finger means.
 7. A loading mechanism as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first and second fluidic piston-cylinder means includes means for rotating said shaft assembly sufficient to twist said strands into helical festoons prior to depositing said strands on said hanger in said helical festoon configuration.
 8. A loading mechanism as claimed in claim 7, including means for synchronously operating initially said first fluidic piston-cylinder means to rotate said shaft assembly and said finger means and then said second fluidic piston-cylinder means to further rotate said shaft assembly and said finger means.
 9. A loading mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said indexing conveyor includes means for intermittently conveying a length of said strand of linked product from said input end to said pick up end.
 10. A loading mechanism as claimed in claim 2, including rack and pinion means for driving said vertically movable shaft assembly.
 11. A loading mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pick up means includes a rotatable, vertically movable shaft assembly including finger means extending therefrom for intercepting said strand at said conveyor pick up end and transporting said strand to said hangers; means for rotating said shaft assembly and said finger means; finger rotating means for separately rotating said finger means with respect to said shaft assembly; said shaft assembly and finger means rotatable through an angle of about 90* from an initial interception of said strand at said conveyor pick up end; said finger means rotatable through an angle of about 90* with respect to said shaft assembly; and whereby said strand upon interception by said finger means at said conveyor pick up end is rotatable through an angle of about 180* prior to hanging on said hangers to form said helical festoon configuration.
 12. In a mechanism for loading strands of linked sausages prior to cooking, including a plurality of continuously moving hangers for receiving and transporting said strands of linked sausages during cooking, the improvement comprising: loading means for hanging said strands of linked sausages in helical festoons on said hangers for preventing self twisting of said strands and contacting of said links on said hangers during cooking.
 13. A mechanism as claimed in claim 12, wherein said loading means comprises: conveyor means for intermittently conveying a length of said sausage strand from an initial receiving position to a pick up position; and hanging means sychronously operable with respect to said conveyor means including means for lifting said length of strand from said pick up position, means for twisting said strand, and means for depositing said strand on respective hangers.
 14. A mechanism as claimed in claim 13, wherein said conveyor means includes means for indexing said sausage strands in predetermined lengths.
 15. A mechanism as claimed in claim 13, wherein said means for lifting and depositing said strand includes, a pick up arm having finger means extending therefrom for engaging said strand; and vertical drive means coupled to said pick up arm for selectively raising and lowering said arm so as to enable said finger means to engage said strand at said pick up position, raise said finger means above the level of said hangers and lower said finger means to a level below said hangers.
 16. A mechanism as claimed in claim 15, wherein said finger means comprise at least two finger elements split sufficiently to enable said finger means to pass on either side of said hanger during depositing of saiD strand on said hanger.
 17. A mechanism as claimed in claim 15, wherein said means for twisting said strand comprises rotating means for rotating said pick up arm and finger means and for twisting said strand from said pick up position through an arc sufficient to enable depositing of said strand on said hanger in said helical festoon configuration.
 18. A mechanism as claimed in claim 17, wherein said rotating means includes means for separately rotating said finger means with respect to said pick up arm.
 19. A mechanism as claimed in claim 18, wherein said means for separately rotating said finger means with respect to said arm includes slotted cam means having a cam follower assembly connected to said finger means.
 20. A mechanism as claimed in claim 14, wherein said conveyor means includes pusher bar means at said pick up end operable upon initiation of said lifting of said strand for restraining said strand on said conveyor means from being de-indexed with respect to said conveyor means. 